National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has dismissed claims that his presidential bid was a state sponsored project.
Muturi who caused a political storm after he was crowned as the Mt Kenya spokesperson in a controversial ceremony before declaring his presidential bid insisted he was his own man about his own business.
Muturi recently announced that he will be vying for president in the next year’s general election and has been busy with political activities.
His first major activity was his controversial coronation as Mt Kenya spokesperson at the holy Agikuyu shrine at Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga in Murang’a County sparking off a political and cultural storm in the region.
The coronation sharply divided the elders with one group opposing it and later on conducting a cleansing ceremony while another led by President Uhuru’s cousin Capt (Rtd) Kung’u Muigai supporting it.
Politicians from the region also reacted sharply to the crowning saying Muturi’s event did not have their blessings and started their own meetings as the Uhuru succession politics heated up.
Muturi’s detractors were quick to dismiss he political activities as state sponsored something he has come out strongly to refute.
He described himself as a seasoned politician who apart from serving his second term as Speaker, he also served as MP for two terms and also a Chief Whip in Parliament.
Muturi said he was qualified to be president and was his running his own political affairs without any sponsorship. He said his politics will not affect his job as Speaker of the National Assembly.
Muturi was speaking when he met 700 religious under the Covenant Clergy Alliance chaired by Bishop Ngari Gakuyo at Wempa Gikono Ranch in Muranga County. The bishops endorsed Muturi and said they would support his presidential bid.
Muturi came to the defense of Bishop Gakuyo saying he (Gakuyo) had been persecuted by people jealous of his achievements.
He cautioned that there are people who only specialised in bringing others down instead of creating their own enterprises.
And defending himself, Bishop Gakuyo challenged those with evidence to prosecute them saying his name has been disparaged for too long. He said it was a heavy burden to carry when people keep accusing you yet you are never prosecuted.
